Generations

Menanteau Serfontein – 24 September 2021

I believe that it is helpful to know something about the generations that lived before us as well as the generations that are sharing the current era with us. This Article provides an overview of the characteristics of the various generations and key events that shaped their beliefs, values, worldviews, politics, preferences and behaviours. 

Meaning of “Generation”

A “generation” is “the average period, generally considered to be about 20–⁠30 years, during which children are born and grow up, become adults, and begin to have children” – it means “people within a delineated population who experience the same significant events within a given period of time”.

It’s worth noting that some analysts believe that the demarcation of a “generation” based on when people were born, is one of the fundamental social categories in a society, while others view its importance as being overshadowed by other factors including class, gender, race and education, among others.

Comments about Generational Differences

There appears to be differences in opinions between one generation and another in respect of  beliefs, views, values, politics, preferences, behaviours, etc which are referred to as a “generational gap”. While some believe strongly in the differences, others believe that these differences are exaggerated.

My personal view is that there are often discernible differences between the predominant characteristics of a significant proportion of the respective generations. However, based on personal experience and observation, I believe that there is a big danger in generalisations which can result in an unfounded assumption that every member of a given generation has the same characteristics. There are numerous examples of members of a given generation who have beliefs, views, values, politics, preferences, behaviours, etc that are not aligned with the predominant characteristics of a significant proportion of the members of the generation concerned.

I believe that there are advantages in the findings of researchers about generational differences, however stereotyping the various generations could be grossly unfair and inappropriate, e.g. that “traditionalists are rigid, baby boomers fear technology and millennials don’t work hard”.

We should view and deal with people from the different generations as individuals with unique personalities, strengths, weaknesses, needs, preferences, opinions and values, i.e. we should avoid perceiving people with stereotyped and biased views and assumptions based on their age, generation, race, gender, etc.

List of Generations

It is important to recognise that the demarcation of the respective generations as well as the research findings about generational differences have been heavily slanted towards the democratic Western culture, specifically the USA. However, with the exponential availability of communication media such as TV and later on, information through digital media such as the Internet, social media, etc, demarcations started mirroring generational characteristics globally, especially in the case of the most recent generations, i.e. the late Generation Xers, Millennials and Generation Z.

The list below is based on the most common demarcation of Generations in the Western World based on when people were born:

1. Lost Generation (Born between 1883-1900)
2. Greatest Generation (Born between 1901-1927)
3. Silent Generation (Born between 1928-1945)
4. Baby Boomers (Born between 1946-1964)
5. Generation X (Born between 1965-1980)
6. Millennials (also referred to as Gen Y) – (Born between 1981-1996)
7. Generation Z (Born between 1997-2012)
8. Generation Alpha (Born between around 2012-mid 2020’s)

1. Lost Generation (Born between 1883-1900)

The people of the Lost Generation were in early adulthood during World War 1. “Lost” in this context refers to the “disoriented, wandering, directionless” spirit of many of the war’s survivors in the early post-war period. The term is also particularly used to refer to a group of American expatriate writers living in Paris during the 1920’s. Gertrude Stein is credited with coining the term “You are all a lost generation”, and it was subsequently popularized by Ernest Hemingway who used it in the epigraph for his 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises.

In the wake of the industrial revolution, Western members of the lost generation grew up in societies which were more literate, consumerist and media saturated than ever before, but they also tended to maintain strictly conservative social values.

Male members of this generation were young adults during World War 1 and were mobilized on a mass scale during that conflict which was often seen as the defining moment of their age group’s lifespan. Female members also contributed to and were affected by World War 1 and gained greater freedoms in its aftermath – politically, and even in other areas of life as well.

The lost generation was also heavily vulnerable to the Spanish flu epidemic and they were the driving force behind many of the cultural changes which took place in major cities – in particular, during what became known as the “roaring twenties”. Later, they experienced the economic effects of the Great Depression between 1929-1939 and they often saw their own sons leave for the battlefields of the Second World War.

 2. Greatest Generation (Born between 1901-1927)

The Greatest Generation, also known as the G.I. Generation and the World War II generation, was also shaped by the Great Depression (1929-1939) and were the primary participants in World War II. Some of them also lived during World War 1.

The characteristics of this generation and the reasons why they are regarded as the “Greatest Generation” will be dealt with in the next Article.

3. Silent Generation (Born between 1928-1945)

In the United States, this generation was comparatively small, because the Great Depression   and World War 1, caused people to have fewer children. It includes most of those who fought during the Korean War. Upon becoming of age in the 1950’s, they played a leadership role in the Civil Rights Movement as well as comprising the “silent majority” and creating the rock and roll music of the 1950’s and 1960’s.

The silent majority is an unspecified large group of people in a country or group who do not express their opinions publicly. The term was popularized by U.S. President Richard Nixon in a televised address on November 3, 1969, in which he said, “And so tonight—to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans—I ask for your support.” In this usage it referred to those Americans who did not join in the large demonstrations against the Vietnam War at the time, who did not join in the counterculture, and who did not participate in public discourse.

4. Baby Boomers (Born between 1946-1964)

This generation is generally defined as people born during the post World War II baby boom. Most Baby Boomers are children of either the Greatest Generation or the Silent Generation and are often parents of late Gen Xers and Millennials.

In the 1960’s and 1970’s, this relatively large number of young people entered their teens and young adulthood, and brought about social movements, such as the counterculture of the 1960’s and its backlash.

The counterculture of the 1960’s was an anti-establishment cultural phenomenon that developed throughout much of the Western World between the mid-1960’s and the mid-1970’s. The movement gained momentum as the U.S. Civil Rights Movement and continued to grow. The participants in the movement were vehemently opposed to America’s military intervention in Vietnam and took drastic steps in an effort to persuade the government to terminate its involvement in Vietnam. As the 1960’s progressed, widespread social tensions also developed concerning other issues, and tended to flow along generational lines regarding traditional modes of authority, human sexuality, women’s rights, experimentation with psychoactive drugs, and differing interpretations of the American Dream.

As the era unfolded, what emerged were new cultural forms and a dynamic sub-culture that celebrated experimentation, modern incarnations of Bohemianism, and the rise of the hippie and other alternative lifestyles. This embrace of creativity is particularly notable in the works of musical acts such as the Beatles and Bob Dylan, as well as of New Hollywood filmmakers, whose works became far less restricted by censorship.

Everyday fashion experienced a decline of the suit and especially of the wearing of hats – styles based around jeans, for both men and women, became an important fashion movement that has continued up to the present day.

Post-war affluence allowed much of the counterculture generation to move beyond the provision of the material necessities of life that had pre-occupied their Depression-era (1929-1939) parents.

In many countries, this period was one of deep political instability due to the post-war youth bulge; in China, adult Boomers became subject to the one-child policy.

In Europe and North America, many Boomers came of age in a time of increasing affluence and widespread government subsidies in post-war housing and education and grew up genuinely expecting the world to improve with time.

Boomers are characterised as being workaholics who are more committed to their roles than other generations. They are also good team players and mentors.

They are competitive with a preference for structure and discipline and are less inclined to welcome change.

Boomers are regarded as less tech savvy compared to other generations and many are struggling to keep up with new developments.

5. Generation X (Born between 1965-1980)

Most members of Generation X (Gen X) are the children of the Silent Generation and early Boomers; Gen Xers are also often the parents of Millennials and Generation Z.

As children in the 1970’s and 1980’s, a time of shifting societal values, Gen Xers were sometimes called the “latchkey generation”. A “latchkey” is a child who returns to an empty home after school or a child who is often left at home with no supervision, because their parents are away at work. The child can be any age, alone or with siblings. This was a result of increasing divorce rates and increased maternal participation in the workforce, prior to widespread availability of childcare options outside the home.

As adolescents and young adults in the 1980’s and 1990’s, Gen Xers were dubbed the “MTV  Generation“ (a reference to the music video channel), sometimes being characterized as “slackers” (someone who habitually avoids work or lacks work ethic), cynical, and disaffected.

Some of the many cultural influences on Gen X youth included a proliferation of musical genres with strong social-tribal identity such as punk, post-punk and heavy metal, in addition to later forms developed by Gen Xer’s themselves (e.g grunge, grindcore and related genres). Video games both in amusement parlours and in devices in western homes were also a major part of juvenile entertainment for the first time.

Politically, in many Eastern Block countries Gen X experienced the last days of communism and transition to capitalism as part of its youth, whilst in much of the Western world, a similar time period was defined by a dominance of conservatism and free market economics.

In midlife during the early 21st century, research describes them as active, happy, and achieving a work-life balance. Gen X has also been credited as entrepreneurial and productive.

Gen Xers tend to be champions of independence and self-reliance. Many grew up in homes with two working parents and learned from their example to work hard, as well as to fend for themselves from a young age.

Gen Xers tend to value collaboration and self-reliance simultaneously in the workplace, encouraging the two to work hand in hand. They seek growth and development and are good at problem-solving and adapting to changes.

6. Millennials (Generation Y) (Born between 1981-1996)

Most Millennials, also known as Generation Y are the children of Baby Boomers and early Gen Xers; Millennials are often the parents of Generation Alpha.

Millennials are considered “digital pioneers” who bore witness to the explosion of technology and social media.

Across the globe, young people have postponed marriage. Millennials were born at a time of declining fertility rates around the world and are generally having fewer children than their predecessors. Those in developing nations will continue to constitute the bulk of global population growth.

This generation is generally marked by elevated usage of and familiarity with the Internet, mobile devices, and social media. Millennials across the world have suffered significant economic disruption since starting their working lives; many faced high levels of youth unemployment during their early years in the labour market in the wake of the Great Recession (2007-2009).

Millennials value diversity, flexibility and exploration and actively seek to better the world. They thrive on independence and are concerned with ethics and social responsibility.

Millennials are less inclined to spend as much time on work as the previous generations.

They are impatient when it comes to career growth and are more likely to leave their employer if they feel that their skills are not being developed.

7. Generation Z (Born between 1997-2012)

Generation Z (or Gen Z for short), is colloquially also known as Zoomers. Most members of Gen Z are children of Gen X.

Gen Z has emerged as a population increasingly worthy of attention, especially now as its older members enter young adulthood. While they share a number of characteristics with Millennials, their formative years have been shaped by a drastically different world, resulting in key differences in attitudes, tendencies and outlook as outlined below:

As the first generation to have grown up with access to the Internet and portable digital technology from a young age, members of Gen Z have been dubbed “digital natives”.

Gen Z has been born into a world of peak technological innovation, where information is immediately accessible and social media increasingly ubiquitous. Many older Millennials and Gen Xers grew up without the Internet and social media, only for it to become ubiquitous later in their lives. As the most tech competent of any generation, members of Gen Z are able to pick up new developments quickly.

These technological advancements have had both positive and negative effects on Gen Z. On the plus side: an abundance of information is at their fingertips, allowing Gen Zers to broaden their knowledge and be proactive in their learning. On the other hand, too much screen time can compound feelings of isolation and lead to underdeveloped social skills.

Gen Z wants instant gratification and they know that if they need information, it’s easily accessible. They want what they want now!

One of the core characteristics of Generation Z is an understanding and acceptance of diversity – they are less fazed than previous generations by differences in race, sexual orientation or religion.

They are pragmatic and financially-minded. Gen Z’s financial focus is a by-product of watching their Gen X parents lose significant savings in a very short period of time during the market crash and recession of 2007-2009. They witnessed how quickly the money can disappear, so financially-driven actions lead much of what they do. They are driven by pragmatism and security. Thus, they value the stability that comes with conservative spending.

They’ll readily accept employment that provides a steady income and necessary benefits even if it isn’t their dream job. On the other hand, many Gen Z’s are entrepreneurially oriented wanting to start their own business.

Mental challenges are a sad characteristic of Gen Z, which has been referred to by some as the “loneliest generation,” as their endless hours spent online can foster feelings of isolation and depression. More time spent on smartphones or watching Netflix means less time spent cultivating meaningful relationships. Additionally, many young people fall prey to the “compare and despair” trap that social media presents.

More Gen Zers and Millennials are receiving treatment or therapy from a mental health professional than other generations.

Most generations tend to be more left-leaning than the previous generation, and Gen Z is no exception. While Gen Zers look a lot like Millennials on many key issues, they are the most politically progressive generation yet.

One of the noticeable differences between Gen Z and older generations is the reduced amount of eye contact employed. Gen Z was born with a device in their hands and are simply used to “looking down”. It’s not meant to be a sign of disrespect or disinterest in the person speaking to them, although older generations may interpret their lack of eye contact as such.

They are focused, competitive and ambitious in most areas of life, including academic performance, with two-thirds of Gen Z saying that their goal in life is to make it to the top of their profession.

Gen Z is more inclined to embrace change compared to other generations.

A key differentiator between Gen Z and their Millennial counterparts is Gen Z’s preference to work independently. Millennials are all about collaboration, but the competitive nature of Gen Z contributes to them wanting to control their own destiny and not rely on others for their own success.

Having access to so much information, Gen Z has strong opinions and wants them to be heard.

Around the world, members of Gen Z are spending more time on electronic devices and less time reading books than before, with implications for their attention span and their vocabulary.

General Observation

Gen Z still has a lot of growing up to do, however as they continue to come of age, early signs indicate that they will grow into engaged, conscientious stewards of our world by being socially-minded, independent thinkers, who recognize their responsibility in shaping a more equitable future for all.

8. Generation Alpha (Born between 2013 – around 2025)

Generation Alpha is the first to be born entirely in the 21st century. Most members of Generation Alpha are the children of Millennials. At this stage there is insufficient verifiable information about Gen A that can be used to describe their characteristics.

Most of the information about the characteristics of the various generations was derived from the following sources:

• Organisations – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation
• Article entitled “What Are the Core Characteristics of Generation Z?” – Updated On April 14, 2021 And Originally Posted January 12, 2021 By The Annie E. Casey Foundation https://www.aecf.org/blog/what-are-the-core-characteristics-of-generation-z
• Article entitled “Understand Generational Differences: Guidelines and Resources”  © Copyright Carter McNamara, MBA, PhD https://managementhelp.org/interpersonal/understand-generational-differences.htm